The Faculty Senate of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville shall have those powers and duties which have been, and which may be, delegated to it by the Trustees of The University of Tennessee and by the Faculty of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

The powers and duties established by a resolution of the Board of Trustees on June 15, 1972, were as follows:

(a) Is authorized, subject to the approval of the chief academic officer, the President, and the Board of Trustees, to formulate policies and regulations regarding the general educational objectives of the University, including those policies and regulations related to the overall general requirements for admission, graduation and honors for the degree programs and certificate programs of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

(b) Is authorized to review the actions of the Special Faculties of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, concerning the specific admission and graduation requirements for the programs of the various academic units.

(c) In consultation with academic officials may also consider, advise, and recommend to the chief academic officer, or, if appropriate, through the chief academic officer to the President, policies and procedures in other matters which concern the general welfare of the faculty of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, such as, but not exclusively limited to, criteria for faculty appointment, dismissal, promotions, tenure, and retirement; criteria for the selection of the chief academic officer and other campus administrative officers; criteria, in conjunction with other Faculty Senates or corresponding bodies of other campuses of The University of Tennessee, for the selection of the President of the University System, and other System executive officers; priorities for the University budget; priorities for the University development plan; and changes in physical facilities. The Faculty Senate may consider, advise, and recommend on proposed policies regarding student life, rights, and responsibilities.

(d) Has no management or administrative functions, either in itself or through the instrumentality of its committees, administrative matters being expressly reserved to the President of the University, and delegated by the Board of Trustees and through the President to the chief academic officer of The University of Tennessee.

All actions by the Faculty Senate shall be reported to the faculty by (1) distribution of a summary of actions of the Senate to all faculty, (2) distribution of minutes and necessary supporting documents to all Senate members, each department head, dean, and director with instructions to maintain them on file for faculty reference, (3) reports as requested for special meetings of the faculty. Any action shall be subject to revision or alteration by the entire faculty provided that no rights or acts of third parties shall be affected by such revisions or alteration.

The voting membership of the Faculty Senate is divided into three classes: (A) administrative members, (B) elected faculty members, and (C) alternates, elected by the units that elected the faculty member and sent to replace faculty senators who cannot be present. The elected faculty members and alternates shall hold bona fide academic rank in order to be eligible.

The administrative members, who shall be voting members of the Faculty Senate, shall be the chief officers for academic affairs, business and finance, and student affairs. Five members will be elected from among the Deans and Directors of the academic units for three-year terms. An elected member shall be ineligible for reelection for one year.

Elected members of the Faculty Senate shall be chosen from those members of the Faculty meeting the following criteria at the time of the election: (1) the holding of full-time or continuing part-time appointment with the rank, or equivalent rank, of assistant professor or higher; and (2) the performance of academic duties totaling at least half-time teaching, research, service, or departmental administration. The faculty of each college or division of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, consisting of full-time or continuing part-time faculty with the rank, or equivalent rank, of assistant professor or higher, shall elect its representatives to the Senate by Spring Break of each year by secret ballot. The term of office is to begin August 1. After completion of a full three-year term, or any partial term of more than one year, an elected member shall be eligible for a second three-year term. A senator who has served two consecutive terms is eligible for nomination only after being off the Senate for a full three years.

(2) Apportionment. Elective seats shall be apportioned in January of each year among the respective colleges and units by the clerical secretary of the Faculty Senate under the supervision of the Chair of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments on the following basis: All part-time full-year faculty appointments and continuing part-time faculty at assistant professor level or above of at least 20% FTE shall be combined into full-time equivalents to be added to the full-time eligible staff in determining the basis for representation in the Senate. The following table will be used for determining the number of representatives based on the number of FTEs:

Faculty FTEs
1-10 FTEs
11-25 FTEs
26-45 FTEs
46-65 FTEs
etc.

Total Senators
1
2
3
4

One elected member shall also represent the Agricultural Extension Service, Institute of Agriculture.
As of April, 2001, the colleges and schools are Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (Resident Instruction and Experiment Station); Architecture and Design; Arts and Sciences; Business Administration; Communication and Information; Education, Health and Human Sciences; Engineering; Law; Libraries; Nursing; ROTC; Social Work; Space Institute; and Veterinary Medicine.
The President, President-Elect, Secretary, Immediate Past President, and Senate Information Officer are considered representatives at large if their terms of membership from their colleges have expired and shall not be counted against the apportionment assigned to particular colleges or schools for the year of office.

(3) Initial Classification. The regular term of office for elected members shall be three years, but the initial representatives of colleges or divisions having three or more seats shall be classified in respect to the time for which they shall severally hold office by dividing them into three classes, each class consisting of one-third of the elected representatives of each college or division. The representatives of the second class shall be elected for a term of two years. The representatives of the third class shall be elected for a term of three years, in order that the term of office of one class of representatives shall expire in each year.

(4) Increases in Apportionment. In case of an increase in the number of elected representatives authorized for any college or division by three or any multiple of three, one-third of the additional representatives provided for shall be elected for the term of one year, one-third for the term of two years, and one-third for the term of three years, on order that each class of representatives shall be increased equally. Thereafter, at each annual election, the successors to the representatives whose terms expire that year shall be elected to hold office for a term of three years.
In the event one or two additional elected representatives are authorized for any college division, their term shall be adjusted to obtain the best distribution by years.

(5) Decreases in Apportionment. In the event of a decrease of the base of representation for any college or division, the decrease in representation shall be made at the next expiration of the term of an elected member.

The faculty of each college of division of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, consisting of full-time or continuing part-time faculty with the rank, or equivalent rank, of assistant professor or higher, shall elect its representatives to the Senate by Spring Break of each year.

All elections will be administered by the office of the President-Elect of the Senate with assistance from the Office of Institutional Research. Each January, the clerical secretary of the Faculty Senate shall notify the Senate President-Elect of the number of positions to be filled in the forthcoming election. The Senators from each UTK college or division where such exist shall serve as the nominations committee for their respective units. The committee shall call for and receive nominations from faculty in their respective units, providing, however, that in the College of Arts and Sciences there shall be three committees representing the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. The nominations committee shall meet to select from nominees the appropriate number of candidates to stand for election in their college or division. There shall be at least two candidates listed on the ballot for each senate seat available. Nominations will be submitted by February 15. The nominations committee shall set the time and procedures for voting. All elections shall be conducted by secret ballot. The nominations committee shall count the votes and notify the Senate President, President-Elect and Senate Secretary of the outcome no later than Spring Break.

In case of any vacancy in the Faculty Senate through death, resignation, promotion (of a member to a position which would make the person eligible to be an administrative member), or where a representative ceases to be a member of the faculty electing him/her or is absent on leave for more than one semester or is ineligible for other causes, the faculty of the college or school thus losing its representative shall select a successor to fill the unexpired term.
A proxy may be appointed by the Senate president during a one-semester leave, when a conflict prevents a Senator from attending for an entire semester, or for called meetings during a summer term. The proxy shall have all the privileges and power of the absentee member.

The Faculty Senate shall ordinarily meet on the third Monday in September, October, and November during the Fall Semester and on the first Monday in February, March, April, and May during the Spring Semester. The President-Elect shall review the calendar one year in advance and adjust meeting dates as necessary. The proposed schedule for the following year shall be presented at the October meeting of the Senate and be published as appropriate. The President shall have the authority to schedule the meetings on other dates, timely notice being given to the Senate. In addition, the Senate shall meet at the call of the President of the Senate, or in the President's absence, the President-Elect of the Senate, or pursuant to a petition signed by one-quarter of the members of the Senate. During the Spring Semester the third Monday in January shall be reserved for a called meeting, to be used if deemed necessary by the President or Executive Committee. Meetings of the Senate shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised unless otherwise provided for in these Bylaws. Faculty, staff, and student observers may speak if recognized by the presiding officer. A Senator wishing to place an item on the Agenda of the Faculty Senate shall submit it to the President of the Senate, in the form of a written motion to be debated, before the meeting of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee immediately preceding a regular meeting of the Senate. Such an action does not preclude any Senator from offering a motion from the floor.

A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The affirmative vote of the majority of those members present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or motion, unless otherwise stated in these Bylaws.

Voting in the Faculty Senate will be by voice or show of hands unless, in particular instances, the majority present desire a secret ballot. All elections shall be conducted by secret ballot.
A motion to table a motion shall not cut off debate on the original motion until: (1) opportunity has been given for at least one person besides the mover of the motion to speak in favor of the original motion and two persons against the original motion; and (2) it shall have been indicated by a show of hands that two-thirds of the members present and voting favor the motion to table.

Committee chairpersons shall submit reports containing items requiring Senate deliberation (other than receiving of reports) to the Secretary at least ten days in advance of the Senate meeting during which the report is to be considered. The Secretary must have reports to the Senate at least five days in advance of meetings. If the report is not delivered within this schedule, consideration of the issue will require approval by a show of hands of two-thirds of the members present and voting.

At the meetings of the Faculty Senate the order of business shall be as follows:

(a) The meetings shall be called to order by the President.
(b) Previously distributed minutes of the last meeting shall be approved or amended.
(c) Unfinished business.
(d) Report of Special Committees.
(e) Report of Standing Committees.
(f) New business.
(g) Adjournment.

Each unit (college or division of the College of Arts and Sciences) will have a caucus comprising all Senators and Alternates. The convening caucus chair will be elected by that caucus during May. The caucus will be responsible for timely communications with the faculty in the unit and will be provided with LISTSERVs for their units by the office of the Senate President. The caucus will call meetings of the faculty as needed. The caucus will be assisted by the dean's office, who will function as a de facto administrative secretary for the caucus, with responsibilities including calling meetings, taking and distributing minutes, etc. The caucus will be responsible for making nominations to the Senate after an appropriate call for nominations. The caucus will be expected to provide nominees, when requested, to the Senate President for Senate and other committees.

At its regular May meeting, the Faculty Senate shall appoint the members of all committees except the Committee on Nominations and Appointments for one-year terms, or as otherwise specified. Recommendations for committees shall be made by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments, as specified below under Article III, Section 1.

In the Spring Semester of each year, the Faculty Senate shall elect a President-Elect, subject to qualifications. Nominees shall provide members within two weeks of the nomination written statements ragarding their relevant experiences and proposed contributions as President. At the next Senate meeting, nominees shall make brief statements to the Senate and respond to questions. Election shall be by a majority vote of all members of the Faculty Senate taken by a printed mail ballot before the third meeting of the Spring Semester. One nomination for Secretary and Information Officer shall be made by the Executive Committee subject to the approval of the Senate membership.
The President-Elect shall be chosen for a one-year term from among those members of the Faculty meeting the following criteria at the time of election: (1) the holding of full-time appointment with the rank, or equivalent rank, of assistant professor or higher; (2) the performance of academic duties totaling at least half-time teaching, research, service, or departmental administration; and (3) prior service as an elected faculty member of the Faculty Senate within the last five years. In the event of death or resignation of the President-Elect or early assumption of the President's office, the Nominating Committee shall present to the next meeting of the Senate a new slate of at least two nominees for another election for President-Elect. Senators may write in additional nominees. Election shall be by a majority vote of all members of the Faculty Senate taken by a printed mail ballot before the next meeting of the Senate. The current President shall remain in office until a successor is elected.
The term of office for President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Information Officer shall be for one year to begin on July 1. The President-Elect becomes the President the following year.

Committee, subcommittee, and council memberships for a given academic year shall be approved by the Senate at the last Senate meeting of the spring term of the preceding year. Whenever possible, Chairpersons of all committees and councils shall be elected senators. Chairpersons may be selected by their committee members or by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments in compliance with bylaw subsections for each committee, subcommittee, or council.
Members shall be nominated in consultation with current committee Chairpersons and through regard for preferences shared by each Senator for personal committee membership. To further communication and collaboration throughout the University, the Chairperson of each committee has the discretion to recommend members who may or may not be elected Senators. The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall approve these members when they are recommended. Most committees shall also have ex-officio members who will not be voting members. Most committees shall use some form of staggered membership as designated in committee subsections. The President of the Senate is an ex-officio member of all standing committees.
Prior to or at the beginning of each academic year, the Chairperson of each committee will meet with the Executive Council to share committee goals for the upcoming year, review the bylaws concerning duties for that committee, and discuss other information relevant to that committee.

Membership shall consist of the chairs of each college or division caucus. Membership shall be for a one-year term to begin in June of each academic year. The President-Elect of the Faculty Senate shall be the Chairperson of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments. The President shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments.
It shall be the duty of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments to nominate faculty members, and in some cases Chairpersons, to the Faculty Senate for all special and standing committees, subcommittees, and councils except the Undergraduate and Graduate Councils. The nominations shall be made in compliance with Article III, Sections 1 and 3. The Senate President shall retain responsibility for all nominations of faculty to administrative committees and other bodies. The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall render a report to the Senate at its regular May meeting of each year and at other times as may be required.

Membership shall consist of 18 tenured faculty members appointed to staggered three-year terms by the Faculty Senate Committee on Nominations and Appointments with the advice and consent of the Faculty Senate. At least one member of the committee must have legal expertise. This committee shall have no ex-officio members, and no member shall be an administrator at the level of department head or above. The Chairperson shall be appointed by the Faculty Senate Committee on Nominations and Appointments.
The function of the Faculty Senate Appeals Committee is to gather evidence and make recommendations to the Chief Academic Officer of the University for the disposition of cases within its jurisdiction. The Faculty Senate Appeals Committee does not replace the role of faculty and administrators in making employment-related decisions. Instead, it is guided by the aim of maximizing the protection of the principles of academic freedom and due process. In all cases, faculty members are entitled to notice regarding grounds on which administrative action has been taken. All matters before the Faculty Senate Appeals Committee are kept in strict confidence, subject to state open records laws.
The jurisdiction of the Faculty Senate Appeals Committee includes complaints regarding violations of due process and fairness in tenure or promotion decisions, annual performance reviews, and violations of provisions contained in the Faculty Handbook and in collegiate and departmental bylaws.

Membership shall consist of twelve faculty members appointed to two-year staggered terms. Ex-officio members shall include the chief campus administrative officer charged with academic affairs (or designee), the Director of Athletics, the Director of Women's Athletics, the faculty chairperson of the UT Athletics Board, the Director of Student Recreation, two student athletes appointed by the Athletics Department, and two students elected by the Student Senate. The Committee will also include the following non-voting ex-officio members: the Director of the Thornton Advising Center, the Associate Director of Women's Athletics Compliance, the Associate Director of Men's Athletics Compliance. The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall appoint the Chairperson of the Athletics Committee for a one-year term.
This committee shall concern itself with academic aspects of intercollegiate athletics as well as the intramural athletics program. It may also concern itself with any other athletics matters which the committee deems appropriate and which lie within the purview of the Faculty Senate.

Membership shall consist of ten faculty members appointed to two-year staggered terms. Ex-officio members shall include the Vice Chancellor for Budget and Finance and Vice President for Operations for the University. The committee shall elect the Chairperson for a one-year term at the last meeting of the Spring semester.
The duties of the committee are: (1) to provide for campus-wide faculty input into the University budgeting and planning processes; (2) to encourage the use of faculty expertise in budget and planning matters; (3) to inform the faculty, through the Senate, concerning budget and planning matters. Both long-range and short-term aspects of its role will receive the committee's attention, including budget priorities, facililties, and THEC formulas.
The primary concern of the committee will be policy. The committee is not expected to become involved in detail and comprehensive investigations necessary as a basis for budget and planning decisions.

(1) Membership shall consist of the Chairpersons of the Standing Committees of the Senate; the officers of the Senate, including the Immediate Past President; two at-large faculty members, and one administrator who is an elected Senator. Ex-officio members shall include the Chief Academic Officer and the chief officer in charge of business and finance. The Chairperson of the Executive Committee shall be the President of the Senate.
This committee shall represent the Senate as needed in meetings with the administration and other groups, shall handle necessary business on an emergency and interim basis between Senate meetings, shall recommend and review assignments to other committees, and shall establish ad hoc committees on behalf of itself or as directed by the Senate.
This committee shall concern itself with the formulation and review of the long and short range educational policies of the University as represented by the monetary allocations made in the budget.
This committee shall not concern itself with individual salaries nor with college or departmental allocations, except as they may relate to the aforementioned educational policy decisions.
When campus or system administrative appointments are to be filled and where it is appropriate for faculty to be of assistance in the recruitment and screening of candidates, the Executive Committee will assist in the selection of the faculty members of such screening committees and lend its counsel to the development of procedures for recruitment and screening of such candidates.
This committee shall annually review the Bylaws and make appropriate recommendations to the Senate for amendments. It shall also review any revisions suggested by members or committees of the Senate. (This latter duty shall in no way prevent members or committees from bringing amendments directly to the Senate for consideration.) It is the responsibility of the President-Elect to make sure that revisions to the bylaws are accurately communicated to the Information Officer.

(2) The Executive Council of the Executive Committee. Membership shall consist of the President, the President-Elect, the immediate Past President, the Secretary, and at least four other members of the Executive Committee. The Chairperson of the Executive Council shall be the President of the Senate.
The Executive Council shall be empowered to represent the Senate in all urgent matters that may arise after the last scheduled Senate meeting in the spring and before the first scheduled Senate meeting in the fall. The Executive Council shall prepare annually a Statement of Objectives for the Senate, based on consultations with the Standing Committees and with appropriate administration officers, and shall present the Statement of Objectives for review and approval by the Executive Committee and the Senate at their first meetings in the Fall. Any activities of the Executive Council shall be reported to the Executive Committee and the Senate at the earliest scheduled opportunity.

Membership shall consist of nine faculty members with three-year staggered terms. The Chairperson shall be appointed by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments.
This committee shall concern itself with the development of criteria and procedures for faculty appointment, promotion, evaluation, the granting of tenure, and discharge for cause. It will check college, school, and department bylaws for compliance with the Faculty Handbook. The committee is responsible for reviewing proposed revisions and recommending changes to the Faculty Handbook following review provisions as set forth in the Faculty Handbook, and for reviewing the Manual for Faculty Evaluation.

Membership shall consist of ten faculty members with three-year staggered terms. Ex-officio members shall include the University Treasurer, Director, Office of Retirement Services, and the Executive Director of Human Resources for the University (or their designees). The Chairperson shall be appointed by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments and should have been an active member of the committee prior to serving as Chairperson.)
This committee will examine, clarify, and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate on issues and concern on retirement, leave, faculty welfare, insurance, and fringe benefits; cooperate with committees addressing similar concerns on other higher education campuses in Tennessee; receive representation from and provide representation to any other Faculty Senate or University task force or committee addressing issues directly related to faculty and staff benefits. When appropriate, the Committee will cooperate with other Faculty Senate committees on base salary issues that are related to faculty and staff benefits.

Membership shall consist of faculty representatives chosen for three-year terms from the schools and colleges of the University engaged in graduate work, and two graduate students appointed by the Graduate Student Senate Members shall be chosen in the spring term for terms to commence at the start of the next fall term. Representatives shall be apportioned among the schools and colleges according to the number of graduate students enrolled in the college or school in the previous fall term, using the following table:

Graduate Students

Total Graduate Council Representatives

1-300
301-500
501-700
etc.

1
2
3

Representatives must regularly teach graduate courses or supervise graduate study and must (1) hold full-time or continuing part-time appointment with the rank of assistant professor or higher, and (2) perform academic duties consisting of at least half-time teaching, research, service or departmental administration. Ex-officio members (without vote) shall be the Dean of Libraries, the Dean of Outreach and Continuing Education, the Director of the Center for International Education, and the Chair of the Research Council or their designees. In addition, the administrative officer having primary responsibility for graduate curriculum in each college or school shall serve as ex-officio member (without vote) of the Graduate Council if that person is not a college or school representative. The Chair of the Graduate Council shall be a faculty member from the Graduate Council elected for a two-year term by voting members of the Graduate Council. The election of the Chair will take place at the last meeting of the Spring semester.
The Graduate Council shall concern itself with standards for admission, retention, and graduation; with curricular matters in the graduate programs; with the development of interdisciplinary programs; with the approval of new programs and any other matters of educational policy pertaining to graduate programs. In addition the Council will examine study abroad policies applicable to graduate students and serve as a liaison between faculty and campus offices that coordinate services designed to reach internatinal education goals. It will monitor policies for screening applicants for various awards and monitor policies regarding receiving credit from programs abroad. The Graduate Council shall report its actions to the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate. The agenda and minutes of the Graduate Council meetings will be distributed electronically to all senators at least five business days prior to the next senate meeting. Implementation follows approval of the changes at that meeting. Any curricular change may be reopened for review and its implementation delayed at the will of the Executive Committee, or the full Senate. The past chair will remain a memeber of the council for one year.

Membership shall consist of six faculty members with experience in educational and/or information technology and research that are appointed to three-year staggered terms by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments, one undergraduate student selected by the Student Government Association and one graduate student selected by the Graduate Student Senate The Chairperson shall be elected by the members of the committee and shall serve a two-year term.
Voting ex-officio members shall be the chief information officer of the Office of Information Technology, the chief information officer for the Knoxville campus, and the director of the Innovative Technology Center. Non-voting ex-officio members shall include other leaders of the Office of Information Technology, specifically the executives responsible for engineering services, and customer technology support, and also a representative of University outreach distance education.
Duties of the committee include: (1) identifying, reviewing, and recommending information technology policies, (2) representing the Senate on key university committees that address information technology, and (3) reporting to the Senate on key information technology issues and developments that affect the campus.

Membership shall consist of one faculty representative from each college or school, except in the case of Arts and Sciences that shall be represented by three faculty members, one from each of the major divisions of the college. One student representative may be selected by the Graduate Student Senate and one by the Undergraduate Academic Council. Ex-officio members shall include the Dean of Libraries and the Associate Dean of Libraries (or designees). The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall select the Chairperson.
The Committee's duties include working with the Dean of Libraries to ensure that library services and collections meet the teaching, research, and public service needs of the University community. Particular focus shall be placed on library policies and procedures that facilitate use of resources.

Membership shall consist of five members of the Senate who serve a one-year term and are appointed by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments. None of the members shall be a member of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments. No ex-officio members will be appointed. The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall appoint the Chairperson. This committee shall nominate two candidates for the President-Elect. The committee shall solicit nominations from the University Faculty at large and shall prepare a ballot that includes biographical information on all candidates.

The membership of the Committee shall consist of a minimum of nine faculty members serving one-year terms and representing the diversity of programs on the campus. Ex-officio members shall be the chief campus academic officer with primary responsibility for academic affairs and the chief campus academic officer with primary responsibility for graduate education (or their designees). The Committee on Nominations and Appointments shall appoint the Chairperson.
Duties of the committee shall include (1) suggesting administrative actions that would permit and encourage professional development; monitoring and evaluating the resulting actions and programs; (2) initiating activities to facilitate the development of faculty members as professionals; monitoring and evaluating these activities and resulting programs; (3) developing a policy of professional leave (sabbatical leave) and monitoring the resulting program; (4) enhancing and expanding international teaching and research opportunities for faculty, and strengthening opportunities for participation of scholars and artists from outside the U. S.

Membership shall consist of no fewer than 15 appointed faculty or faculty/administrator representatives chosen by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments for staggered three-year terms. In addition, there shall be three graduate students selected by the Graduate Student Senate. Ex-officio members shall include the chief academic officer responsible for research, the Associate Vice President of the Office of Research, the Dean of Libraries and college level administrators with responsibility for research (or their designees). The composition of the Council shall reflect balance among externally funded and institutionally supported research, between research and other creative activity, and between disciplines. Members must be actively engaged in research or other creative activity and must (1) hold full-time or continuing part-time appointment with the rank of assistant professor or higher, and (2) perform academic duties consisting of at least half-time teaching, research, service or departmental administration. Ex-officio members shall be the Dean of Libraries and up to two additional designees. The Council members shall elect the Chairperson for a one-year term. The Chairperson must have served at least one year on the Council prior to election. The members of the Council may elect co- or vice Chairpersons.
The Research Council acts as an advisory body to the chief university officer for research. The Council shall promote excellence in research and other creative activity through the study and recommendation of policies. The Council shall sponsor programs to communicate an understanding and appreciation of research and other creative activity to the University community and the community at large. The Council coadministers some programs of the Office of Research as requested by the chief university officer for research. Areas of concern include research incentives and support, intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary research activities, compliance with State, Federal and University regulations governing the conduct of research, rights to and commercialization of intellectual property, the broad range of research infrastructure including all forms of telecommunications and computational support, and other appropriate matters. Further, the Research Council shall concern itself with the institutional policy on research grants and funding, with copyright and patent policy, with protection of investigators, with the protection of human subjects of research, with the protection of experimental animals, and with policies affecting compliance of research activities with environmental and occupational health and safety requirements. Further, the Research Council shall encourage publications and the development of specialized research facilities for intercollegiate and/or interdisciplinary uses and with any other policies pertaining to research programs. The Council shall also encourage the advertisement of research successes of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville researchers. When appropriate, the Council shall report its actions for approval to the Faculty Senate.

Membership shall consist of eight faculty members, two students appointed by the Student Government Association, and as ex-officio members shall include the President of the Student Government Association, the Chairperson of the Student Government Association Senate, the President of the Graduate Student Senate, a representative from the Dean of Students' Office, and the chief campus academic officer with primary responsibility for student affairs. The chairperson shall be a faculty member appointed by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments.
This committee shall concern itself with student life, rights, privileges, and responsibilities; and with social disciplinary matters, student government, and organizations. It shall make recommendations to the Faculty Senate on these matters.

Membership shall consist of fifteen faculty members nominated to the Senate by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments, as well as three graduate students, three undergraduate students, selected by the Student Government Association. The faculty members should have currently active teaching/advising responsibilities. Members shall serve for three-year staggered terms with 1/3 of the terms expiring each year. All colleges offering instruction at the graduate or undergraduate level will have at least one representative. Attempts will be made to distribute the other representatives among the colleges of the university. The three graduate students are elected to serve on the Council by the Graduate Student Senate in consultation with the Chairperson. The three undergraduate students are elected to serve on the Council by the Student Government in consultation with the Chairperson. Ex-officio members shall include the Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and the Associate Dean of the Graduate School. The Teaching Council shall elect the Chairperson for a one-year term at the last meeting of the spring semester; the Chairperson takes office at the first meeting of the fall semester. Should the Teaching Council so decide, the Council may have co-Chairpersons who operate within the same procedures as a single Chairperson.
The Teaching Council is a committee of the Faculty Senate that works to advance excellence in teaching and academic advising at UTK. Areas of concern for the Teaching Council include incentives for recognizing quality instruction and advising, methods for improving instruction at a campus and departmental level, guidelines for routine and disciplinary evaluation of teaching, academic advising, and curriculum. For example, the Teaching Council examines policy issues related to teaching on the UTK campus and works with the chief academic officer to recognize excellence in teaching and advising. The Teaching Council works with the Center for Undergraduate Excellence to run a yearly campus-wide program that involves faculty and staff in addressing issues central to improving instruction and advising. The Teaching Council works with both the Graduate School and the Center for Undergraduate Excellence to develop practical means of improving and rewarding instruction and advising on campus.

O. Undergraduate Council. Voting membership shall consist of representatives chosen for three-year terms from the schools and colleges of the University granting baccalaureate degrees, one member of the ROTC faculty, and four students designated by the Undergraduate Academic Council. Members shall be chosen in the spring term for terms to commence at the start of the next fall term. Representatives shall be apportioned among the baccalaureate degree granting units according to the number of degrees granted during the prior academic year, using the following table:

Baccalaureate Degrees Granted

Total Undergraduate Council Representatives

1-300
301-500
501-700
etc.

1
2
3

In the College of Arts and Sciences, representatives shall be apportioned among the Divisions of Social Sciences, Humanities and Natural Sciences. Members must (1) hold full-time or continuing part-time appointment with the rank of assistant professor or higher, and (2) perform academic duties consisting of at least half-time teaching, research, service or departmental administration. Ex-officio members (without vote) shall be the Dean of Admissions and Records, the Dean of Outreach and Continuing Education, the Dean of Libraries, the Director of the Center for International Education, and the Chair of the Standing Committee on Advising (or their designees). In addition, the administrative officer having primary responsibility for undergraduate curriculum in each college or school shall serve as an ex-officio member (without vote) of the Undergraduate Council if that person is not a college or school representative. The Chair of the Undergraduate Council shall be a faculty member from the Undergraduate Council elected for a two-year term by voting members of the Undergraduate Council. The election of the Chair will take place at the last meeting of the Spring semester.
The Undergraduate Council shall concern itself with standards for admission, retention, and graduation; with curricular matters in the undergraduate programs; with the development of interdisciplinary programs; with the approval of new programs and any other matters of educational policy pertaining to undergraduate programs. In addition the Council will examine study abroad policies applicable to undergraduate students and serve as a liaison between faculty and campus offices that coordinate services designed to reach international education goals. It will monitor policies for screening applicants for various awards and monitor policies regarding receiving credit from programs abroad. The Council shall report its actions for approval to the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate. The agenda and minutes of the Undergraduate Council meetings will be distributed electronically to all senators at least five business days prior to the next senate meeting. Implementation follows approval of the changes at that meeting. Any curricular change may be reopened for review and its implementation delayed at the will of the Executive Committee, or the full Senate.

Such other committees, standing and special, as may be established from time to time. The members of all committees shall hold office for one year from the time of their appointment, unless otherwise specified. Membership of these committees may include any faculty unless Senators are designated, as well as students and staff. The President of the Senate is an ex-officio member of all standing committees.

In the event of a vacancy in faculty membership of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments or of any committee, the Faculty Senate shall fill such vacancy by an election at the next regular meeting. The new members shall be elected for the unexpired portion of the term vacated.

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Faculty Senate, where he/she shall be bound by the Bylaws and Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised. The President shall prepare an Agenda for meetings of the Senate. The President shall include as new business at the next regular meeting of the Faculty Senate any items proposed by a Senator in accordance with Article II, Section 3. The President shall represent the Faculty and on all occasions be considered the chief spokesperson of the Faculty Senate and the University Faculty. The President shall be the President-Elect chosen during the previous year. The President shall be granted release time from an appropriate amount of faculty duties as determined in conjunction with his/her supervisors and receive other support such as an assigned graduate assistant for the duration of the term.

The President-Elect of the Faculty Senate shall act as President of the Faculty Senate in the absence of the President. In the event of death or resignation of the President after January of the year of term, the President-Elect assumes the office of President. If such should occur prior to January of the given term, then a special election of a new President-Elect shall be held with the new President having the option to be nominated and elected to serve a full term. The President-Elect shall be the editor of the Faculty Senate Newsletter or shall appoint a Newsletter editor with the approval of the Committee on Nominations and Appointments. The President-Elect shall oversee the timely operation of college or division caucuses and be responsible for managing bylaws changes.

The Secretary of the Faculty Senate shall send to all Senate members and faculty advance notice of the time and place of all meetings together with an agenda; shall keep minutes of all action taken by the Senate (there will be no verbatim reporting of remarks and discussion, nor will professional titles be recorded); shall send summary of actions of the Senate to all faculty; shall send minutes and necessary supporting documents to all Senate members, department heads, deans and directors; shall make special reports as requested by The University of Tennessee Faculty, pursuant to Article I, Section 2 of these Bylaws. The Secretary of the Senate serves as secretary to the Executive Committee and the Committee on Nominations and Appointments. The Secretary shall be nominated by the Executive Committee subject to approval of the Senate membership to serve a one-year term. In the event of a vacancy, the Executive Committee shall name a replacement to serve the remainder of the current term.

There shall be an Information Officer appointed by the President of the Faculty Senate each year and approved by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments to manage disseminating information and maintaining Senate archives.

The Faculty Senate shall have the power to make, amend and repeal the Bylaws by a vote of two-thirds majority of those members present at regular or special meetings of the Senate, provided that any proposed changes shall have been submitted to the members of the Faculty Senate at least twenty-eight (28) days before the meeting at which the vote on them shall be taken.

Amendment 10. Articles throughout. Addition of continuing part-time faculty to Elected Faculty Members, addition of immediate Past President to apportionment, revision of Executive Committee membership, and deletion of University Councilors from Nominating Committee, deletion of entire section on representation to the University Council.

May 30, 1983

Amendment 11. Revisions throughout. Revision of ex-officio members to the Faculty Senate and chairpersons to the Undergraduate and Graduate Councils.

May 21, 1984

Amendment 12. Revisions throughout. Addition of the Provost, each Vice Provost, the Vice Chancellor for Business, Planning and Finance and the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs as voting ex-officio voting members of the Senate.

July 15, 1985

Amendment 13. Revisions throughout. Graduate and Undergraduate Councils to report once a quarter through the Educational Policy Committee; Vice Provosts to chair the Undergraduate and Graduate Councils; International Education Committee changed to function by the calendar year; membership revisions to Educational Policy, Executive, Athletics, and Professional Development committees; and modification of charge to Faculty and Staff Benefits Committee.

March 10, 1986

Amendment 14. Revision to sections concerning membership of the Undergraduate and Graduate Councils.

Article III, Section
3(e) Standing and Special Committees - (1) Graduate Council
and (2) Undergraduate Council - Chairs of both bodies to be
faculty members elected by the voting members of the body.
Article II, Section 10 and Article IV, Section 5 - change
name of "webmaster" to "Senate Information
Officer"
Article III, Section 3, F - establish the chief officer for
business and finance as member of the Executive Committee

April 29, 2002

Article II, Section
1 - the chief executive officer of the University (President)
shall be an ex officio members of the Senate.

Article II, Section 1, B (1):
Change the first sentence to read…"Elective seats
shall be apportioned in January of each year among the respective
colleges and units by the clerical secretary of the Faculty
Senate under the supervision of the Chair of the Committee
on Nominations and Appointments.";
Article II, Section 2: replace "Secretary" with
"clerical secretary of the Faculty Senate";
Article II, Section 1, B, (1): Delete "as of April 2001"
from first Sentence;
Article II, Section 1, B, (1): Delete "Human Ecology"
and "Information Sciences" and use new combined
college names "Education, Health and Human Sciences,"
and "Communications and Information Sciences" instead;
Article II, Section 8: allow 4 nominees from the College of
Education, Health and Human Sciences to be considered for
election to two positions on the Committee on Committees;
Article III, Section 2: insert “two Senators from the
College of Education, Health and Human Sciences”;
Article III, Section 3, C: Add a final sentence "It is
the responsibility of the Chair of the Bylaws Committee to
make sure that revisions to the bylaws are accurately communicated
to the Information Officer."

March 3, 2003

Article II, Section 1 –
adding the category of alternate members;
Article III, Section 3, A – inserting the following
sentence: “The Committee will also include the following
non-voting ex-officio members: the Director of the Thornton
Advising Center, the Associate Director of Women’s Athletics
Compliance, the Associate Director of Men’s Athletics
Compliance. “;
Article III, Section 3, J – Changing the name of the
Legislative Committee to Government Relations Committee and
changing the charge of the committee to include “government
entities at the local, state, and national levels.”

Article III, Section 3, extensive changes (see minutes) with the addition of the Appeals Committee and the Information Technology Committee; changing the membership and charges of the Faculty Affairs Committee, the Student Affairs Committee, the Educational Policy Committee, the Professional Development Committee; changing the membership of the Executive Committee; and deleting the Instruction with Technology Sub-Committee, the Development and Alumni Relations Committee, the Government Relations Committee, and the International Education Committee.